This past year, we celebrated a remarkable milestone—five years in our wonderful building and hosting over 1,000 workshops. These achievements are a testament to the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of 51���� and the dedication of our team.

One of our key initiatives remains the NSF I-Corps program, where 51���� plays a pivotal role in the Midwestern academic entrepreneurial ecosystem. This program continues to empower researchers and innovators, bridging the gap between groundbreaking discoveries and market impact.

Our Startup Challenge remains a cornerstone of our mission. We are proud to support student entrepreneurs as they transform their innovative ideas into reality, fostering creativity and growth on our campus and beyond.

This year, we are looking forward to a dynamic journey filled with experiments and pilot projects, exploring bold ideas that pave the way for future success.

Finally, we extend our deepest gratitude to our generous supporters and funders. Your unwavering commitment makes our work possible and enables us to nurture the next generation of changemakers.

2025 is poised to be a transformative year, and we can’t wait to see the incredible innovations, connections, and successes it will bring. Here’s to a year of growth, discovery, and entrepreneurship!

The post Welcome to 2025: A Year of Innovation and Collaboration appeared first on Lubar Entrepreneurship Center.

Welcome to the exciting world of innovation at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center! We’re thrilled to introduce our newest Innovation Interns: Samantha Sarenac, Nikko Javier, and Tristan Jarvey. These dynamic individuals bring a diverse array of talents, experiences, and passions to our team, promising to infuse fresh perspectives and creative energy into our projects.

From Samantha’s international marketing aspirations and artistic flair to Nikko’s global business acumen and leadership prowess, and Tristan’s unique blend of psychology, computer science, and military experience, this trio embodies the interdisciplinary spirit that drives innovation. Join us as we embark on a journey of creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial discovery with these remarkable interns.

Learn more about each of our newest interns below!

Meet Samantha

Samantha is a current undergraduate student studying Marketing and Spanish, with a certificate in International Business. As a Milwaukee native, she loves to explore the city and all the opportunities Milwaukee has to offer. An avid lover of the arts, including music, theatre, and dance, she has become a proud member of . Samantha hopes to study abroad in Spain one day and work on promotional campaigns with global companies or entertainment agencies.

Fun fact: Samantha’s love of music has taken her to national levels as a participant in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. When she is not traveling or performing, you will often see her downtown at the Panther Arena cheering on her favorite sports team, the Milwaukee Admirals.

Meet Nikko

Nikko is a first-year undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he is pursuing a degree in finance with the intent to complement his studies with a certificate in international business. Raised in Wrigleyville, Illinois, Nikko’s life has been shaped by diverse experiences, including a few years living abroad that broadened his worldview and adaptability. After returning to the U.S., he completed high school in Wisconsin, where he cultivated a strong foundation in academics, leadership, and athletics.

Beyond his academic pursuits, Nikko is no stranger to leadership and high-level competition. He has held roles as a sports head coach, applying his skills in mentoring and strategic thinking, and he has a rich background in business through his involvement with . His achievements include winning 1st place at the Wisconsin State Career Development Conference, which highlighted his proficiency in business analysis and presentation.

Meet Tristan

Tristan is an undergraduate Computer Science student at 51����, having previously earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in December 2022. As an innovation intern at the LEC, he primarily focuses on the LEC website and newsletter.

With over eight years of professional experience across eight industries, Tristan has honed his skills in creative problem-solving, constructive persistence, and continuous improvement. His background includes six years of service in the Army Reserves as a Combat Engineer, completing his service as an E-5 squadron leader of an eight-member squad. During his service, Tristan mentored a high-performing squad member leading to their successful completion of the Army Special Forces Assessment & Selection.

Tristan’s areas of interest include software development (both back-end and front-end), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and natural language processing (NLP). His passion for innovation is evident in his consistent efforts to enhance systems, methods, and ventures for greater efficiency.

Entrepreneurship runs in Tristan’s family, with his parents having founded multiple businesses ranging from hotel development to stereo console renovation and retail. This background, combined with his technical skills and diverse experience, fuels Tristan’s drive to create software and services that improve people’s long-term quality of life.

Fun Fact:
Despite his thalassophobia turning oceans into liquid nightmares, Tristan has twice donned scuba diving gear and plunged into the “abyss.”

Connect with Our Innovation Interns!

Connect with our new interns on LinkedIn to stay updated on their innovative projects and insights (click their below image to view their LinkedIn profile)!

The post Welcome LEC’s Newest Innovation Interns! appeared first on Lubar Entrepreneurship Center.

Meet Shriya

Shriya Mehrotra is a senior in Civil Engineering from Schaumburg IL, a suburb of Chicago. Her goals are to be a serial entrepreneur and to help others find their passions in life like she was able to find hers with leadership and construction management. In her spare time, Shriya enjoys cooking, dancing, enjoying pretty views, and spending quality time with the people in her life.

A fun fact about Shriya: Shriya can word for word recite about 3 of her childhood favorite Bollywood movies and knows the plot to almost any other by heart.

Meet Priya

Priya is a graduate student in Management Sciences and Quantitative Analytics and is also pursuing a Business Analytics Certification at 51����. She hails from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, which is affectionately known as the heart of India. Priya is on the path to becoming a data analyst and eventually aims to establish a marketing company that integrates data analysis and machine learning to innovate marketing strategies for products and services. To maintain an active lifestyle, she engages in various physical activities. Priya is particularly fond of playing basketball, working out at the gym, and ice skating, which has become a part of her weekly routine in Milwaukee.

A fun fact about Priya: Beyond her love for sports, Priya is an avid artist. In India, she was known for her work with resin, creating commissioned resin art pieces and teaching the craft to others. Additionally, she pioneered the first startup in India that specialized in the use of jesmonite material, an eco-friendly alternative to resin. She also holds a yellow belt in Karate.

The post Welcome to the LEC’s Newest Innovation Interns! appeared first on Lubar Entrepreneurship Center.

Students are eligible for an award of $650.00 upon completion of the program.

“For more information about this opportunity, including dates and times of sessions , please click here. To apply for the program, please fill out the form below. This application is now closed. Orientation begins Monday, February 5th, 2024.

The post Announcement: Kubly Well-Being Fellows appeared first on Lubar Entrepreneurship Center.

• The LEC will be closing at 6:00 p.m. through Thursday and at 4:30 on Friday this week (12/18 – 12/22)
• The LEC will be closed 12/23 – 1/1 and reopen on 1/2 for UWinteriM hours (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. M-F)
• The LEC will return to normal operating hours with the start of the Spring semester on 1/22 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m. M-R, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. F)

The post LEC Adjusted Hours Through Start of Spring Semester appeared first on Lubar Entrepreneurship Center.

Launch & Lunches are held in the LEC at the Touchdown and Launch Space every Wednesday from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Feel free to extend this invitation to other colleagues and students.

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